Truck towing system and assembly

ABSTRACT

A truck towing system is described. The truck towing system provides for a first truck to tow a second truck in a back to front relationship, i.e., the front portion of the second truck (the towed truck) is connected or attached to a rear portion of the first truck (the towing truck). The truck towing system includes an upper member to removably connect with a first truck. A middle member joins the upper member and a lower member in a fixed engagement. The lower member supports a front portion of a second truck. A beam member is removably engaged to the lower member, and the beam member extends and retracts from an interior of the lower member. The beam member connects to a rear portion of the second truck.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a truck towing system and assembly.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Previous attempts of towing or transporting semi-trucks have used amethod called “decking,” in which a first truck tows a second truck withan axle assembly of the second truck positioned over a rear portion orframe of the first truck. The method does not work with many moderntrucks that have an increased height, since a top of the second truckwill be too high off of the ground resulting in problems passing throughtunnels or under over-passes and possible violation of laws orregulations directed to maximum vehicle height.

Other attempts in towing semi-trucks use a method in which the truckthat is being towed is towed in reverse. This method is fuelinefficient, since the towed truck is moving in a direction counter toits aerodynamic design. Further, towing in reverse may damage thesuspension or the air fairings of the towed truck

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A truck towing system and assembly are herein described. The trucktowing system and assembly provide for a first truck to tow a secondtruck in a back to front relationship, i.e., the front portion of thesecond truck (the towed truck) is connected or attached to a rearportion of the first truck (the towing truck). This allows the firsttruck to tow the second truck in a fuel efficient manner, as trucks arenot generally designed to be aerodynamic when driven in or pulled in areverse direction.

The truck towing system and assembly also allows for the towed truck tobe maintained at a height where a top surface or a roof of the towedtruck is maintained below approximately 13 feet, 6 inches, which is atypical maximum height for safe clearance on most highways andinterstates. Many of today's semi-trucks are built with cabins or condosabove and behind the driver's seat in the cab. These areas may contain abed or other storage area. These additions to the cab create extraheight that must be accommodated by the towing equipment.

The truck towing system and assembly allows a single driver to move twoor more trucks to a destination. This reduces labor and travel costssince two drivers are not required.

The truck towing system and assembly further provide for the towed truckto have its rear wheels on the ground, while its front wheels arelifted. This provides the driver of the first truck with better controlover the second truck. This also reduces the likelihood of the towedtrucked to start “snaking,” which may result in a loss of control.

The truck towing system and assembly further is adjustable toaccommodate different sized semi-trucks. The assembly may extend orretract depending on the length of the towed vehicle.

The truck towing system and assembly further collapses into a collapsedconfiguration that has a reduced size. In the collapsed configuration,the assembly may be easily lifted with a crane, a hoist, or otherlifting apparatus. In the collapsed configuration, a center of gravityof the assembly is positioned approximately in the middle of thecollapsed towing assembly, thus allowing an easy two point attachment tothe collapsed towing assembly. Further, the collapsed configurationprovides for more efficient storage and transportation of multipletowing assemblies.

In one aspect, a truck towing system is provided. The truck towingsystem includes an upper member to removably connect with a first truck,a middle member, and a lower member. The middle member joins the uppermember and the lower member in a fixed engagement. The lower membersupports a front portion of a second truck. A beam member is removablyengaged to the lower member. The beam member extends and retracts froman interior of the lower member. The beam member connects to a rearportion of the second truck.

In another aspect, a truck towing system is provided. The truck towingsystem includes an upper member to removably connect with a first truck,a middle member, and a lower member. The middle member joins the uppermember and the lower member. The lower member supports a front portionof a second truck. A beam member is removably engaged to the lowermember to pass through a front opening and a rear opening of the lowermember. The lower member defines an interior to receive the beam member.The beam member connects to a rear portion of the second truck. Thelower member includes one or more sets of openings that are spaced alongthe length of the lower member. The beam member includes one or moresets of pin openings that are spaced along the length of the beammember. A locking pin passes through one of the sets of the openings inthe lower member and one of the sets of the pin openings in the beammember to lock the beam member and the lower member together. The trucktowing system retracts to a collapsed configuration with a portion ofthe beam member passing through the front opening of the lower member,and the portion of the beam member is below the upper member.

In another aspect, a method of connecting a truck towing system to afirst truck and a second truck is provided. The method includesproviding a towing assembly having an upper member that removablyconnects with the first truck, a middle member, and a lower member. Themiddle member joins the upper member and the lower member. The lowermember supports a front portion of a second truck. A beam member isremovably engaged to the lower member. The beam member connects to arear portion of the second truck. The method further includes extendingor retracting the beam member relative to the lower member. The methodfurther includes locking the beam member and the lower member together.The method further includes positioning the second truck over the lowermember and the beam member and locking a front axle assembly of thesecond truck to the lower member. The method further includes locking arear frame of the second truck to the beam member and lifting the uppermember. The method further includes attaching the first truck to theupper member of the towing assembly.

In another aspect, a method of storing a truck towing system isprovided. The method includes providing a towing assembly having anupper member to removably connect with a first truck, a middle member,and a lower member. The middle member joins the upper member and thelower member. The lower member supports a front portion of a secondtruck. A beam member is removably engaged to the lower member. The beammember connects to a rear portion of the second truck. The methodfurther includes retracting the beam member relative to the lower memberthrough an interior of the lower member and through a front opening ofthe lower member.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the truck towing system.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the truck towing system.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the truck towing system.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the truck towing system in the collapsedconfiguration.

FIG. 5 is a view of the first truck towing the second truck with thetruck towing system.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the connection at the rear portion of thesecond truck.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the connection at the rear portion of thesecond truck.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the connection at the rear portion of thesecond truck.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the connection at the rear portion of the firsttruck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The truck towing system and assembly will now be described withreference to the FIGURES. A truck towing system 40 is shown in FIG. 1.The towing system 40 includes a truck towing assembly 50. With referenceto FIG. 5, the assembly 50 connects to a rear portion of a first truck10 and to a front portion of a second truck 20. The first truck 10 isthe towing truck, while the second truck 20 is the towed truck. Thesecond truck 20 is towed in a forward direction. A third truck may alsobe towed by the second truck 20 in a similar manner.

The first truck 10 includes a conventional saddle mount 15, whichreceives the towing assembly 50 in a fixed and locking connection. Afront axle assembly 23 of the second truck 20 rests on the towingassembly 50. A rear frame 26 of the second truck 20 is locked, by chainsor otherwise clamping, to the assembly 50. Rear wheels tandem 29 of thesecond truck 20 are in contact with the ground and roll as the firsttruck 10 pulls or tows the second truck 20. Accordingly, the secondtruck 20 is being pulled in the direction in which the second truck 20was aerodynamically designed. As such, pulling the second truck 20 inthe forward direction results in fuel economy savings as the first truck10 is performing reduced work verses towing the second truck 20 in abackward manner.

The towing assembly 50 includes an upper member 100, a middle member200, and a lower member 300. Each of the members 100, 200, and 300include a generally linear length of a rigid and strong metal or metalalloy. Each of the members 100, 200, and 300 may be formed from solid,hollow or partially hollow sections of square tubing or stock. Themembers 100, 200, and 300 may be made from low to medium strength carbonsteel. The upper member 100 is connected to the middle member 200, andthe middle member 200 is connected to the lower member 300. The uppermember 100, the middle member 200, and the lower member 300 may befixedly connected to each other, or the members 100, 200 and 300 may bean integral structure. In the embodiment shown in the FIGURES, the uppermember 100 is welded to the middle member 200, and the middle member 200is welded to the lower member 300. Typically, none of the upper member100, the middle member 200, and the lower member 300 move or pivotrelative to each other.

The upper member 100 is orientated in a range of approximately parallelto the lower member 300 or slightly angling toward a plane of the lowermember 300 in an amount of approximately 2 degrees to 5 degrees in thedirection attaching toward the first truck 10. The upper member 100 isseparated from the lower member 300 by the middle member 200. The middlemember 200 joins an end of the upper member 100 with an end of the lowermember 300.

The upper member 100 includes a front portion 120 and a rear portion160. The front portion 120 connects to or attaches to the saddle mount15 of the first truck 10. In the embodiment shown in the FIGURES, theupper member 100 includes a saddle mount portion 124 that is fixedlyconnected to the saddle mount 15 of the first truck 10. The saddle mountportion 124 is positioned or fixed on a bottom surface 122 of the uppermember 100. The saddle mount connection between the saddle mount 15 andthe saddle mount portion 124 is a fixed or non-moving engagement.

The rear portion 160 of the upper member 100 includes a rear end 162that defines rear surfaces 164. The rear end 162 and the rear surfaces164 are fixedly connected by welding or other fasteners to the middlemember 200. The upper member 100 further includes side surfaces 166.Connecting plates 180 connect the side surfaces 166 of the upper member100 with side surfaces 222 of the middle member 200. The connectingplates 180 strengthen or reinforce the connection or bond between theupper member 100 and the middle member 200.

The middle member 200 includes an upper portion 220 and a lower portion260. The upper portion 220 is fixed or connected to the rear portion 160of the upper member 100. The middle member 200 is fixed or connected tothe upper member 100 at an angle of approximately 100 degrees toapproximately 150 degrees. This range of angles provides for the lowermember 300 to be at the proper position for connecting to the secondtruck 20. With reference to FIG. 3, the upper portion 220 includes anupper surface 210, the side surfaces 222, and the rear surface 230. Theupper surface 210 receives angled support plates 280 in a fixed orpermanent connection that further connects the middle member 200 withthe lower member 300.

The lower member 300 will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. Thelower portion 260 of the middle member 200 is fixed or connected to afront portion 320 of the lower member 300. The middle member 200 isfixed or connected to the lower member 300 at an angle of approximately100 degrees to approximately 150 degrees. The lower member 300 includesthe front portion 320 and a rear portion 360. The front axle assembly 23of the second truck 20 is positioned or mounted on a top surface 332 ofthe lower member 300.

The lower member 300 further includes a front opening 336 and a rearopening 366. The front opening 336 is positioned below the middle member200. A front end 410 of the stinger beam 400 is inserted into the rearopening 366 of the lower member 300. The stinger beam 400 may beinserted nearly or all the way through an interior 370 of the lowermember 300. The front end 410 of the stinger beam 400 may slide or passthrough the front opening 336, such that a substantial portion of thestinger beam 400 is positioned beneath the upper member 100.

The front opening 336 is provided with a reinforcing collar 338 thatstrengthens the front opening 336. Likewise, the rear opening 366 isstrengthened with a reinforcing collar 368. The reinforcing collars 338and 368 may circumscribe or nearly fully surround the front opening 336and the rear opening 366, respectively

The lower member 300 further includes a side surface 334. The sidesurface 334 defines pin openings 394. The pin openings 394 provide for apin 470 to pass through the lower member 300 of the towing assembly 50and through the stinger beam 400 in order to lockingly fix the stingerbeam 400 in position in the interior 370 of the lower member 300. Thelower member 300 further includes vertical supports 396 that furtherstrengthen the lower member 300. The vertical supports 396 are welded toa top widened support plate 380 and to a bottom widened support plate390.

The side surface 334 further includes chain mounting members 392 toreceive a transport chain 395 or other hoisting or lifting apparatus,which may be used to lift or hoist the assembly 50. The chain mountingmembers 392 provide a connection point for chains or other hoistingimplements in order for an operator to attach or connect to the towingassembling 50 and lift the towing assembly 50.

With reference to FIG. 1, the top widened support plate 380 is shown.The top widened support plate 380 includes an axle stop 383 and holes386. In the embodiments shown in the FIGURES, U clamps 389 pass over thefront axle assembly 23 and insert through the holes 386 and are fastenedin place with locking nuts, locking pins, etc. The top widened supportplate 380 provides a broad surface for the front axle assembly 23 torest upon. As the top widened support plate 380 widens as it approachesthe axle stop 383, a broad base is provided for the front axle assembly23 of the second truck 20 that reduces rocking or shaking of the secondtruck 20 when it is positioned on the top widened support plate 380 ofthe lower member 300.

A lower surface of the top widened support plate 380 is welded to thevertical supports 396, while an upper surface of the bottom widenedsupport plate 390 is welded to the vertical supports 396. The verticalsupports 396 are further welded to the side surfaces 334 of the lowermember 300. In other embodiments, the front axle assembly 23 may bepositioned on the top widened support plate 380 and fastened withchains, bolts, fasteners, or other conventional mechanical apparatusthat may be used to attach the front axle assembly 23 to the lowermember 300.

The stinger beam 400 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and4. The stinger beam 400 includes the front end 410 and the rear end 450.As shown in FIG. 4, pin openings 430 are positioned on an exterior ofthe stinger beam 400 and travel through the interior width of thestinger beam 400. The stringer beam 400 may include an I-beamconstruction with an upper surface 422 and a lower surface 424. Avertical support plate 420 further supports the upper surface 422 andthe lower surface 424 of the stinger beam 400. The vertical supportplate 420 reinforces and strengthens the stinger beam 400.

A crossbar 480 assists in connecting a rear portion of the second truck20 to the assembly 50. The rear end 450 of the stinger beam 400 includesa chain receiving member 460 that is fixedly attached to the crossbar480. A chain 490 connects lateral portions 482 of the crossbar 480 tothe chain receiving member 460. The crossbar 480 rests on a rear frame26 of the second truck 20. Specifically, a bottom surface 484 of thecrossbar 480 rests over the top of the rear frame 26, while the chain490 holds the stinger beam 400 to the crossbar 480. The chain receivingnumber 460 may be attached or integral in a fixed engagement to the rearend 450 of the stinger beam 400. The chain receiving member 460 includesthe chain openings 465 that receive the chain 490. In other embodiments,the chain receiving member 460 may include other mechanical structure orcomponents to affix to the chain 490. The length of the chain 490 may beadjusted to raise or lower the rear of second truck 20. Generally, thefront and rear sets of the rear wheels tandem 29 of the second truck 20should be in contact with the ground to provide better control andbraking of the second truck 20. The length of chain 490 between thecrossbar 480 and the chain receiving member 460 may be lengthened tolower the front set of the rear wheels tandem 29. Likewise, the lengthof chain 490 between the crossbar 480 and the chain receiving member 460may be shortened to raise the front set of the rear wheels tandem 29.

With reference to FIG. 4, the stinger beam 400 is adjustable in lengthrelative to the lower member 300. The overall length of the towingassembly 50 may be adjusted by extending and withdrawing the stingerbeam 400 relative to the lower member 300. The stinger beam 400 slidesin and out of the interior 370 of the lower member 300. The uppersurface 422 and the lower surface 422 of the stinger beam 400 may slideagainst the interior surfaces of the lower member 300. The circumferenceor outer surfaces of the stinger beam 400 should be just smaller thanthe interior circumference or inner surface of the lower member 300 suchthat the stinger beam 400 is held in a secure engagement. As shown inFIG. 8, the lower member 300 and stinger beam 400 may have box or squarecross-sections that provide support and strength to the assembly 40. Theoperator may select one of the one or more sets of the pin openings 394that are spaced along the length of the lower member 300. The operatormay further choose one of the one or more sets of the pin openings 430along the length of the stinger beam 400. This allows a range of lengthof the towing assembly 50 that may be used to accommodate different sizeor types of semi-trucks.

Importantly, the stinger beam 400 may be withdrawn through the interior370 of the lower member 300 and through the front opening 336 such thatmuch of the stinger beam 400 is directly underneath the upper member100. This allows the towing assembly 50 to collapse into a moreconvenient storage size. The towing assembly 50 may further lock in thecollapsed configuration.

The towing assembly 50, by virtue of the extendable stinger beam 400,provides a range of extension between 0 and approximately 3 linear feetto accommodate a variety of different semi-trucks. When the towingassembly 40 is in the fully extended configuration, it has an overalllength of approximately 18 feet. When the towing assembly 40 is in thecollapsed configuration, it has an overall length of approximately 10feet.

The semi-trucks that may be towed with the towing saddle system 40 mayweigh approximately 5,000 to approximately 10,000 pounds. The towingassembly 50 may weigh approximately 1,600 pounds. The stinger beam 400includes at least one set of the pin openings 430 and may include up tofive or six sets of the pin openings 430. The lower member 300 includesat least one set of the pin openings 394 and up to approximately five orsix sets of the pin openings 394.

The method of operation of the towing system 40 will now be described.First, the towing assembly 50 is laid flat on the ground. The stingerbeam 400 is extended or retracted relative to the lower member 300 untilit is at the proper length for the second truck 20. The pin 470 is theninserted through the pin openings 394 in the lower member 300 andthrough the pin openings 430 of the stinger beam 400. The pin 470 islocked in place via a cotter pin, nut or the like. Next, the secondtruck 20 is driven over the lower member 300 and the stinger beam 400.Next, the U clamps 389 are positioned over the front axle assembly 23and tightened such that the front axle assembly 23 is clamped or fixedto the lower member 300. Next, the crossbar 480 is passed over the rearframe 26 of the second truck 20, and the chain 490 connects the crossbar480 with the chain receiving member 460.

A crane, hoist, or other lifting implement next lists the upper member100 to a sufficient height to where the first truck 10 may back or moveunderneath the saddle mount portion 124. Next, the upper member 100 islowered until the saddle mount portion 124 of the towing assembly 50 ispositioned in the saddle mount 15 of the first truck 10. The saddlemount 15 is then locked to the saddle mount portion 124. As such, thetowing system 40 is now connected to the first truck 10, and the secondtruck 20 is supported via the towing system 40. The rear wheels tandem29 of the second truck 20 are in contact with the ground, while thefront wheels 27 of the second truck 20 are approximately 6″ toapproximately 12″ off and above the ground.

With reference to FIG. 4, the towing assembly 50 collapses to acollapsed configuration for efficient storage and convenientmaneuverability. The stinger beam 400 is withdrawn or retracted throughthe interior 370 of the lower member 300 and through the front opening336 such that much of the stinger beam 400 is directly underneath theupper member 100. The stinger beam 400 may be locked in place with thepin 470. In this collapsed configuration, a center of gravity of thetowing assembly 50 is positioned approximately in the middle of thecollapsed towing assembly 50. The chain mounting members 392 provide theconnection point for chains or other hoisting implements in order for anoperator to attach or connect to the towing assembling 50 and lift thetowing assembly 50. Thus, towing assembly may be safely lifted at itsmiddle point without the towing assembly 50 twisting or torqueing on thetransport chain 395. Due to it compact size, up to approximately 25 ofthe towing assemblies 50 may be stored on a standard flat bed trailer.

It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particularembodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,various modifications can be made thereto without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is not intendedthat the invention be limited by the specification; instead, the scopeof the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appendedclaims.

1. A truck towing system, comprising: an upper member to removablyconnect with a first truck; a middle member; a lower member, wherein themiddle member joins the upper member and the lower member in a fixedengagement; the lower member supports a front portion of a second truck;a beam member, the beam member removably engaged to the lower member,wherein the beam member extends and retracts from an interior of thelower member; and, the beam member connects to a rear portion of thesecond truck.
 2. The truck towing system according to claim 1, whereinthe upper member, the middle member, and the lower member are fixedlyconnected to each other with the middle member positioned between theupper member and the lower member, and the upper member above the lowermember.
 3. The truck towing system according to claim 1, wherein thebeam member slides in and out of an interior of the lower member.
 4. Thetruck towing system according to claim 1, wherein the truck towingsystem is adjustable in length by extending or retracting the beammember relative to the lower member.
 5. The truck towing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the beam member slides in and out of afront and a rear opening of the lower member.
 6. The truck towing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the lower member comprises one or moresets of openings that are spaced along a length of the lower member, andthe beam member comprises one or more sets of pin openings that arespaced along a length of the beam member, and a locking pin passesthrough one of the sets of the openings in the lower member and one ofthe sets of the pin openings in the beam member to lock the beam memberand the lower member together.
 7. The truck towing system according toclaim 1, wherein the truck towing system converts to a collapsedconfiguration and an extended configuration.
 8. The truck towing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the beam member is withdrawn through aninterior of the lower member and through a front opening of the lowermember such that a portion of the beam member is directly underneath theupper member.
 9. The truck towing system according to claim 1, whereinthe upper member includes a top widened support plate to receive a frontaxle assembly of the second truck.
 10. The truck towing system accordingto claim 1, wherein the lower member includes a top widened supportplate and a bottom widened support plate, wherein a lower surface of thetop widened support plate is welded to vertical supports, while an uppersurface of the bottom widened support plate is welded to the verticalsupports.
 11. The truck towing system according to claim 1, wherein thelower member includes a top surface, and a front axle assembly of thesecond truck is positioned or mounted on the top surface of the lowermember.
 12. The truck towing system according to claim 1, wherein thelower member includes a top widened support plate, which comprises anaxle stop and holes, and clamps lock a front axle assembly of the secondtruck to the lower member via the holes.
 13. The truck towing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the lower memberincludes chain mounting members to connect to a transport chain.
 14. Thetruck towing system according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of the beammember includes a chain receiving member that fixedly attaches to acrossbar, and a chain connects lateral portions of the crossbar to thechain receiving member, and the crossbar rests on a rear frame of thesecond truck.
 15. The truck towing system according to claim 14, whereinlengthening or shortening the chain lowers or raises the rear portion ofthe second truck.
 16. A truck towing system, comprising: an upper memberto removably connect with a first truck; a middle member; a lowermember, wherein the middle member joins the upper member and the lowermember; the lower member supports a front portion of a second truck; abeam member, the beam member removably engaged to the lower member topass through a front opening and a rear opening of the lower member; thelower member defines an interior to receive the beam member; the beammember connects to a rear portion of the second truck; the lower membercomprises one or more sets of openings that are spaced along the lengthof the lower member, and the beam member comprises one or more sets ofpin openings that are spaced along the length of the beam member, and alocking pin passes through one of the sets of the openings in the lowermember and one of the sets of the pin openings in the beam member tolock the beam member and the lower member together; and, wherein thetruck towing system retracts to a collapsed configuration with a portionof the beam member passing through the front opening of the lowermember, and the portion of the beam member is below the upper member.17. A method of connecting a truck towing system to a first truck and asecond truck, comprising: providing a towing assembly comprising: anupper member to removably connect with the first truck; a middle member;a lower member, wherein the middle member joins the upper member and thelower member; the lower member supports a front portion of a secondtruck; a beam member, the beam member removably engaged to the lowermember; and the beam member connects to a rear portion of the secondtruck; extending or retracting the beam member relative to the lowermember; locking the beam member and the lower member together;positioning the second truck over the lower member and the beam member;locking a front axle assembly of the second truck to the lower member;locking a rear frame of the second truck to the beam member; lifting theupper member; and attaching the first truck to the upper member of thetowing assembly.
 18. The method of connecting a truck towing system to afirst truck and a second truck according to claim 17, wherein rearwheels of the second truck are in contact with the ground, while frontwheels of the second truck are above and off the ground.
 19. The methodof connecting a truck towing system to a first truck and a second truckaccording to claim 18, further comprising using a chain to lock the rearframe of the second truck to the beam member, and lengthening orshortening the chain to lower or raise the rear portion of the secondtruck.
 20. A method of storing a truck towing system, comprising:providing a towing assembly comprising: an upper member to removablyconnect with a first truck; a middle member; a lower member, wherein themiddle member joins the upper member and the lower member; the lowermember supports a front portion of a second truck; a beam member, thebeam member to removably engage to the lower member; and the beam memberto connect to a rear portion of the second truck; and, retracting thebeam member relative to the lower member through an interior of thelower member and through a front opening of the lower member.
 21. Themethod of storing a truck towing system according to claim 20, furthercomprising retracting the beam member to a collapsed configuration witha portion of the beam member directly underneath the upper member. 22.The method of storing a truck towing system according to claim 21,wherein an approximate center of gravity of the truck towing system inthe collapsed configuration is at an approximate center of an overalllength of the truck towing system in the collapsed configuration.